Health risk behaviors among high school and university adolescent students

Tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse constitute a public health concern. Data regarding health risk behaviors among Greek youth are scarce. The aim of the present study was to investigate health risk behaviors of a large adolescent sample (730 adolescents, 294 males and 436 females), residing in different areas of Greece, trace perceived side effects and associate the findings with the adopted lifestyle. High school students and University newcomers, aged 14-21 years (17.8±4.5 years), self-reported health risk behaviors via an anonymous, closed-type, validated questionnaire. Simultaneous adoption of unhealthy habits, such as smoking and drug abuse, were not independent (χ²=38.668, P=0.01). Age was the most significant factor in the adoption of unhealthy behaviors; smoking (χ²=27.220, P=0.01), misuse of cannabis and recreational drugs (χ²=9.874, P=0.05) and combining alcohol and smoking with entertainment (χ²=8.708, P=0.05; χ²=317.309, P=0.05, respectively) were adopted more by the elder (18-20 years) than the younger (15-18 years) teenagers. Males were more prone to abuse of cannabis (χ²=8.844, P=0.01), whereas females combined drinking and smoking with loud music during entertainment (χ²=6.618, P=0.05). The majority (64%) reported driving after drinking alcohol and intense entertainment, especially in urban areas. Almost half of smokers (53.1%) and drug users (46.3%) first encountered smoking or drugs from friends. Educational institutions and entertainment venues were the main places of initiation of smoking (26%) or drug use (35.2%), respectively. Adolescents from touristic regions were more prone to smoking (33.9%, P=0.01) and drug abuse (53.7%, P=0.01). The lower the frequency of exercise, the higher the consumption of psychoactive substances (P=0.022). Youth engaging in unhealthy habits were also willing to use prohibited doping substances (56%, P=0.043). Health problems were the main reason to consider changing habits (72%). In conclusion, health risk behaviors were multifactorial and tended to cluster. Thus, preventive youth strategies should target negative peer influences, especially during late adolescence.